Sukyo Mahikari North American Website: The Uncut Version

Through this post I plan on exposing Mahikari for what it really is. Taking their words to describe the organization and then re-writing them in order for potential members to get a thorough perspective.

Sukyo Mahikari North America is one regional part of Sukyo Mahikari, an international organization with HQ in Takayama, Japan. This post will contain a very extensive description of this organization's activities and spiritual practices. As a former member of this group, I have had my own experiences with Mahikari. Throughout my seventeen years I have learned a lot about Mahikari through my own experiences as well as from my mother, sister, and step-father who are all currently members. As most can observe from my past posts, my involvement in Mahikari hasn’t necessarily been like the sunny pictures used to illustrate Sukyo Mahikari’s official North American site.

Those pictures set a very safe mood, but it is a cover up for a lot of secrets and lies. The pictures may look happy, but if you look beyond the photo, a little deeper, you will see a whole new perspective of Mahikari. From the very first page of this site there is already tons of false advertisement.

The site states:

“Sukyo refers to "the universal laws God established at the time of the Creation so that all things in the universe can prosper eternally," and Mahikari means "True Light," the Light of God that purifies the spiritual aspect of all things. Through the experience of receiving True Light, Sukyo Mahikari believes it can become much easier for a person to awaken to the existence of God, and God's universal principles.”

This is incorrect. As a Japanese person, fluent in Japanese, I can assure you that the word “Sukyo” means supra-or supreme. Throughout Mahikari teachings, one will hear the Kanbu and instructors refer to Mahikari as a Supra-Religion. As kumite we are taught that Mahikari is better than all other religious practices and that all other religions will disappear as they have lost any power they once held. The word “Mahikari” does mean true light, but that is about the only truthful thing written on this entire web page.

The site also states:

“As people cultivate a deeper understanding of the universal laws, Sukyo Mahikari believes that such people will wish to work together to establish a civilization on Earth in which spiritual values are given priority over material values, and where peace and harmony exist for everyone.”

It sounds like a great idea on paper, but the reality of it is that it is impossible for everyone to live in harmony and peace without several groups making sacrifices where religion and culture is concerned. Culture and religion is what cause diversity and disagreement in the first place. In order to rid the world of diversity we would all have to think and act the same way and settle for uniformity. The reason we have wars and controversy is because everyone wants the right to live their life and worship the way they see fit. There’s nothing wrong with that. God gave us minds to think with and we are entitled to our own beliefs. If we all thought the same way and believed the same things the world would be in a state of perfect harmony…we wouldn’t have war or problems because their wouldn’t be countries to conqueror or boundaries to tear down, nor politics to argue about, nor religion to debate. I would love for war and poverty and all other negative aspects of our world to be wiped out, however, if the only way to do that is to strip people of their individuality and make them conform to ideals set down by a supreme-leader(Okada), then I would rather have those negative aspects.

The site then says:

“When Mr. Kotama Okada founded the Mahikari organization, his intention was to help people throughout the world create a more peaceful and harmonious civilization based on the tenet that "The origin of the world is one, the origin of all human beings is one, and the origin of all religions is one." The one is Creator God, whatever He may be called in various religions and elevated philosophies of the world.”

This I agree with. No problem here. There is one God who created us all. Some of us might have the wrong perspective of what God is like and how He governs this planet, but ultimately we all know that He is there and that He created us. God is like the wind, you can’t see Him, but you can feel Him.

The site then says:

“Our aim is to help make possible a world filled with love and harmony where people will overcome the many barriers facing them today. In such a world, people will naturally love, care for and respect one another as co-habitants of this one planet – Earth.”

Like I said before, it’s a wonderful idea if it could be done without making everyone conform to Mahikari ideals and way of life, but since the only way to achieve this is by making everyone on the planet a robot…I would rather just leave everything as is. The site says that Mahikari wants to “overcome the many barriers”, but in the end the way Mahikari wants to overcome them is by erasing the barriers all together and making everyone conform to a Japanese way of living; which is not right. I might be Japanese, but I was raised American. I love my freedom and liberties and I have to admit that every time I travel to Japan and have to adapt to their customs, which I am not used to after having lived in America for so long, I feel out of place and awkward. I don’t want to bow, I don’t want to remove my shoes, I don’t want to take food up to the ancestral alter…nor do I think any other hot-blooded American would either, not initially at least.

“Our organization aspires to cooperate with others in society who share the same vision of a world where a spiritual outlook will naturally be integrated with humankind's material development and progress.”

This is true; Mahikari does is accepting of other religions and cultures…initially. However, once a new recruit joins it is assume that once the divine principles have become clear the new member will abandon their culture and previous religious beliefs in favor of Mahikari doctrine. Mahikari cooperates with society in hopes of society and other groups bringing in new members and more revenue.

“Sukyo Mahikari aims to provide opportunities for people to further their spiritual growth, by helping people to awaken to the existence of God and the principles that govern the universe.”

The “principles that govern the universe” are karmic principles that state that the victim is always at fault when something negative occurs in their life. A child who is molested is to blame because in a past life they did something that remedied that kind of punishment, a person who is dying of a disease is deserving of it because they did something in a life years before, the Jews that died in the Holocaust were deserving of their fate because they failed to build proper enshrinement for Su-God (Mahikari’s name for God).

Mahikari blames the victims and not the people who harm the victims. The principles of the universe is simply this, “You deserve what you get, so deal with it and be thankful that you have been permitted to live through this punishment.”

“Sukyo Mahikari is not the only path to God nor is it the only way to come closer to God. It is one of many paths leading to the same Universal Truth.”

This is a bold face lie. In the Goseigen it is reiterated over, and over, and over again that Mahikari members (especially Japanese members) are God’s chosen children. Kumite are the only people on earth who will survive the Baptism of Fire (Mahikari’s version of Armageddon), and go on to live in the next holy civilization. If a person hasn’t at least taken Primary Kenshu in their life time, Mahikari members believe that when God wipes out mankind a terrible fate will await those individuals.

Mahikari members fully believe that they are the only path to God, a person might be able to participate in another religious practice as long as they have taken Kenshu, however those who have not taken Kenshu…you get the idea.

“The purpose of the practice of the Art of True Light is to purify and revitalize our spirit, mind and body. Through this spiritual practice, people can accumulate experiences that help them grow spiritually and become more in tune with God's will.”

I have never experienced anything more than a feeling of meditation while receiving true light. If you have never meditated, try it, and you will see what it feels like to receive okiyome. Mahikari uses true light as their main sales pitch, however, anyone who takes the time to relax and center themselves will feel the same effects. An okiyome session is like adult naptime.

“The Light of God is the spiritual energy or vibration of God's love, wisdom and will. Transmitting and receiving True Light is the basic practice of Sukyo Mahikari. People from all walks of life and religions practice this art that is open to all.”

I find it profoundly disturbing that Mahikari talks about God in such loving terms, but then slanders the name of God by proposing that He is a money driven tyrant who has absolutely no problem wiping out His people, killing billions, if they don’t take a three day seminar and receive an omitama (holy pendant). Is it just me or does that sound ridiculous?

“Through the practice of giving and receiving True Light, it is possible to experience the existence of and the power of God. One can also become aware of the great influence that the unseen spiritual world has on the physical world.”

One becomes more aware of the spiritual world around them by going to the dojos monthly ceremonies and listening to the hogwash about attaching spirits that will attack you if you don’t wear the pendant and adhere to its proper care, offer and receive okiyome, and donate money to the dojo and spiritual leader. I was no more aware of the unseen spiritual world than I was before Mahikari, only aware of the threats of what might happen to me if I didn’t play by their game.

“Sukyo Mahikari teachings are about universal principles rather than rules. One of the objectives of Sukyo Mahikari teachings is to help people become more aware of the divine principles that govern all creation. The universal principles are goals towards which anyone can aspire and work, step by step.”

More lies. Mahikari is littered with rule after rule after rule. It’s ridiculous how many restrictions and rules Mahikari imposes on a person. The pendant alone needs an entire rule book. The wearer cannot touch the pendant without clean hands, as it is more precious than their life. The wearer must keep the pendant in tiny bags to make sure that it does not get wet, get damaged, or touch flesh. No one else is allowed to touch the pendant besides the wearer, the person rewrapping it, or a Kanbu member. The pendant cannot touch anything below waste level. The wearer has to purify the soap they are going to use with a prayer, they must pray before they put on the pendant, and the process is repeated when they take it off.

If a member has any kind of shrines the rules are even worse. When a person receives a Goshintai the Doshi has to come to the home and decide which room the shrine wants to be in. Once the shrine has decided which room to inhabit, nothing else can be put in that room, as it then becomes a holy place. I know someone who just moved to a new home and lost their game room because the Doshi decided that the Goshintai wanted to go in the game room upstairs.

I have to admit; those Goshintai’s sure do know how to pick the best room in the house. There are all sorts of things that one must do in order to properly care for a Goshintai. Members must perform a daily opening and closing ceremonies to perform at home, a monthly thanksgiving ceremony, elaborate cleaning rituals, and restrictions on the use of their house. The care of an ancestor's altar involves dusting and cleaning the altar and name tablets monthly, serving a meal and washing their crockery daily, and offering prayers and Light weekly or so. Mahikari prides itself on being a spirit-centered organisation, with God as the head.

There are many strict rules and regulations to be adhered to, so that the members will correctly follow God's will. It is frequently mentioned how God has a very strict side, and that the astral world is much stricter than this world. Here are some examples: It is not permitted to photocopy any divine teachings, holy books, or other group literature. If members want copies, they need to write them out by hand. Holy books and journals must not be placed on the floor, or anywhere that feet would go, as they carry the Light of God. In a multi-storey house the Holy Altar [Goshintai] and ancestor's altar have to be on the top floor.

(As I mentioned earlier) All members must offer a 'Spiritual Line Maintenance Donation' before the end of every calendar month, to keep their spiritual cord connected between their Omitama and God, and to show their gratitude. If this donation is not made, the member will be called by a staff member and reminded of their responsibility. It seems to me that Mahikari is a stickler for rules; quite a group of marionettes.